Knights hold centennial convention in St. George

SALT LAKE CITY — The number 14239 is the latest addition to the litany of councils of the Knights of Columbus in the Diocese of Salt Lake City beginning with Salt Lake Council 602 more than a century ago. Announced at the knights’ 100th annual convention May 5-6 in St. George, the St. Andrew council has already surpassed the 30 required to form a council with 44 knights ready to serve their community.

"Our Utah knights represent an outstanding fellowship of Catholic men committed to their faith and to their communities," said State Deputy Charles Dover, Jr., in a May 21 interview with the Intermountain Catholic. Dover points out that though the Knights of Columbus in the Diocese of Salt Lake City has smaller membership than in states with a larger Catholic population, membership as a percentage is high.

"Our state membership directory Robert Masse, Jr., announced at our meeting in June last year that we would see an increased membership of 200 men this year. As of today, we are 16 short of meeting that goal," said Dover.

This year honors were given to St. Vincent de Paul Council 13297 for repair of the Holy Cross Chapel, to St. Thomas More Council 11479 for a book sale which gathered over 10,000 volumes, to Mother Teresa of Calcutta Council 12181 of Draper for ministry at the juvenile detention center, to Corpus Christi Council 6966 of Sandy for their work in support of the annual Carmelite Fair, and to the Father Joseph Valine Council 11246 of Cedar City for their "Share the Bounty" food collection program, now averaging over 200 pounds of collected food each month.

"Everyone honored at the convention as well as the many others who have done works this year for the good of their community – they all deserve banquets honoring their efforts," Dover said.

In addition to the councils which were honored, Ron and Roxanna Finnerty of the Vic Giasson Council 10733 of St. George were honored as family of the year, and Tim Giesing of the Fr. Valine Council 11246 was honored as Knight of the Year.

"Ron and Roxanna Finnerty tirelessly serve the St. George Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus council, and the St. George community. Ron and Roxanna met in a Catholic grade school, went on to date in high school, and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, have four children, and seven grandchildren. Now an honorary member, Ron joined the Knights of Columbus in 1954. He serves as a eucharistic minister, altar server, and Salvation Army bell-ringer. Together they started a soup kitchen in the St. George Catholic Church Kuzy Hall. In 2006, 9,300 meals were served.

"Tom Giesing moved to Minersville Reservoir in 1971. The closest church was 25 miles west: St. Bridget Parish in Milford. Until this winter he regularly made the 120-mile round trip to attend monthly meetings of the Fr. Valine Council in Cedar City. Since there is now no permanent priest in Milford, Tom has worked as quasi-parish administrator. Before Mass he goes early to turn up the heat, check the mailbox, listen to the phone messages, and keeps the church in repair. He takes communion every Saturday to a former parishioner who is confined to a rest home in Beaver, and leads a prayer service for prisoners in Beaver."

Later this year, Dover will address the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus in Nashville, Tenn., delivering the nomination speech for John Wainscott, a member of the national council. Also, because of a resolution passed at the St. George convention, Bishop John C. Wester will be recognized by the Nashville gathering.

Diocesan Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald was also honored by the Utah Knights of Columbus for his work throughout the years in support of the Utah Catholic Church, though one important aspect of the recognition was the celebration of an anniversary.

"Some 45 years ago a priest was ordained at the same time the Knights of Columbus were holding their convention. The state deputy who was elected that year could not attend the state convention and was elected without being in attendance. The man was Joseph Fitzgerald. He asked to be excused to attend the ordination of his son, now Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, on May 12, 1962. The award was a little piece of history."